Control apparatus



Jan. 9, 1945. R WHEMPNER 2,367,162

CONTROL APPARATUS* Filed April 20, 1942 INVENTOR. '214550,11 H.Whm]oncz1^ ATTORNEY.

BY /bwaww' v mounted;

Patented Jan. I9, 1945 y 4;,1; 1 i,

v p CONTROL APPARATUSV Y Russell H. Whempner, Minneapolis, Minn., as-

f signorI to ,Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, a corporation of Delaware Application April 20, 1942, Serial No.` 439,679

" cclaims. (c1. 236-1) The present invention relates to airconditioning control systems in general, Iand moraparticularly to condition responsive devices for controlling lair. conditioning systemsin aircraft;

' Airconditioning'systems generally includer a condition responsive device such as a thermostat or -a humidostat mounted'in the space Whose temperature'orfrhumidity is Vto'loe controlled. The

l air conditioning 'means' `then'controlled in ac: cordance with the variations of the condition responsive device. 'f vIt is necessary that the rcondition responsive device ber mounted at `ar point Where theambient air condition'simmediately adjacent the device'l are representative of the'air conditions in the'space as a whole. The prob'- i lem of properly locating the condition responsive device is always diilicult, and itis vsometimes impossible to locate thedevice in a completelysatisfactoryy place. This problem is particularly difcult inthe case of moving vehicles, which have I 'relatively'thin outside Walls, and are therefore apt to have a very uneven distribution of air conditions in various parts ofthe vehicle.l

It vistherefore an object of the present invention'to provide -a mounting arrangement for a condition responsivejdevice for use in an air conditioning system which shall 'make the' device more accurately indicative ofthe averageair conditions throughoutv the space in` which it 'is A further Aobject'of thevpresent invention is to provide improved means for* mounting'a 'condition responsive device in a space in such a manner that a current of air isy run over the -device forcibly, rather than relyingV on the natural circulation of air in the space to carry it to a point vadjacent the condition responsive device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an 'improved arrangement for vmounting an air condition responsive device in a moving vehicle in such a manner that the external air flow caused by the motion of the vehicle is utilized to create ya flow of air over the condition responsive device.. I I l A further object of the present invention is to provide, in an vair conditioning system for an airi craft cabin, amounting for thecondition responsive, device such that the pressure differential between-the passenger cabin and the pilots com'- partment, due to motion of the aircraft, is utilized to cause a flow of air from'the cabin over the condition responsive device." y 5 vOther objects and advantages of the present inventionY Willffbecome apparent upon an4 inspecv-In Figure 1,

tion of the appended specification, `clairns'and drawing, in which Figure 1 shows somewhat diagrammaticallyv a "cross-section of an aircraft, illustrating a preferred method of rmounting a lcondition responsive device in accordance with the principles of my invention,

yFigure l2 illustrates a. modied method of -mounting a condition responsive device in accordance with my invention,

Figure 3 illustrates aspecic form of condition responsive device together with abase and supporting means therefor,;which may beused in the system indicated in Figure 1,

`Figure 4 is a side elevation of a cover for the condition responsive device illustrated in Figure 3,'and i y Figure/5 is a top'vievvv of the cover shown in Figure 4.

IIJ indicates generally-an airplane of the transport'type, having av passenger cabin I'I and a pilots compartment. I 2." In various models ofthe aircraft, the compartment I2 may be subdivided into smaller compartments for use of the stewardess, for baggage, or for other purposes. Suchsubdivisions of compartment I2 are usually interconnected -by passageways in which no doors are provided. The Wall I3,` betweenthe cabin Il and the space |2, on the other hand,- is usually provided with a door (not shown).

A temperature control system for the cabin II is provided, which includes a temperature responf sive device I4. This is preferably of the electri'cal type and is connected 'by a pair of coni arrangement such as that shown'in the cepending application of- Willisv H. Gille, LSerial No. 439,673, filed April 20, 1942. Y Y

The wall I3 is provided vWith an aperture I8 and thev temperature responsive device I4 is mounted inthe cabin II just over the aperture i8.

In Figure 3f is shown the temperature responsive device I4, with its cover 20 removed. The details ofthe cover 2Q are shown in Figures l and 5. f f

In 'Figure 3, the temperature responsive device I4 is seen as' comprising a coil of Wire 2| wound on a suitable bobbin 22. The Wire 2I` is preferablyof some material such as nickel having an appreciable temperature coefcient of resistance. 55.' v

23, attached by any suitable means to a base member 24. The base member 24 and a second base member 25, of similarsize and shape are held together by suitable clamping means, which may be a number of bolts and nuts such asthe one shown at 26.

The basemember v.is provided with an. aperture 21, and the baseqmember 25 is'providedawith a corresponding aperture '28. The aperture 28 is of slightly greater diameter than the aperture 21., and is provided with a countersunk portion 30 to receive a shoulder 3l on a sleeve or conduit member 32. The construction is such that the two base members 24 and 25, and rth esleeve"member 32 may be assembled by slldingfthesleeve mem` ber 32 through the aperture 28 until the shoulder 3l seats on the countersunk portion 30. The'base members 24 and 25 are then clamped together bythe bolt 26, or other suitable means, vthereby holding the sleeve 32 securely.

lThe external dimensions of "the 1: sleevekare such that it will pass readily throughtheaperture I8-in the wa1lI3v. v

A portion of the. sleeve. 3'2 spacedfrom x-the shoulder 23 I is threadedtas at @33, so :asfto receive thereon a knurled rin'gf34. dt will be. readily seen that the temperature responsive device -I;4-may be mounted in the yaperture lil` of; the wall zji'by iirst` passing the sleeve 32 #through theaperture I8, and then applyingl theiringtM'toi the threaded portion 133, turning fthe z-ring: 34. until vfit." is Ytight against the-wall I3. l

Beyond `the threaded portion 133, ;the"s1eev.e member 32 is providedwithatnuniber of slots-35 ori-other suitable openings :tofpermit .the escape of air therefrom.; There1is alsomountediatthis end of the sleeve 32, an electrical connectorc, which may be of any conventional design.

A pair of conductors 31 and 38 extendfrom `the-'terminals ofthe coil :21 'through thefaperture l21=and the-sleeve 32-to1theiconneotor'36. 'The connector 3b` is shown Aas .being -of `the:tvvezvconductor, male. typerend iseadaptedstointeriittingly receive a corresponding female :connector which may be attached to the conductors ilffand :16.

The ends of :the :casing: 20 arerprcvided with suitable apertures :such as '.40 and :41 :in :Figuran soraswtopermit the f-free passage-.of f-.airwtherethrough.

When anfairplaneiis iniiaht, :axapid flowfof air-.takes piace. past theoutersurfacesof the, plane. Ithas .been -found tha-temine vforward portions ofc-the plane, such :as nthevpilots compartment I 2, that thisrapid owofiair,tendsitoicrte areduced pressurefconditionfiust outsideithe walls of the fplane. :Since the Walls of the plane are. .not completelyair-tight, this'reduced pressure con dition .is transmitted through A'leaks :around the windows-:rivet holes, aetc., thereby tending to reduce the air pressure instl'iey pilotis compartment I2. This reduced pressure condition-is notgpresentzin the `rear compartments of the plane, such as the passenger cabin yI I. Thereforena pressure differential is i created :between rines-cabin yI=I and the pilotis compartment 11,2, whenever the. .airplane is inrdight. Thisfpressureidifferential.condition .,is -well :known to those familiariwithrthe air transportation art and can be readily veried byopeningvand closing.theedoorbetweenthe passenger cabin and the Vpilotis.-,compartment :oan airplane infull flight. 'It willbe .noted that .a substantial force is necessary .to .overcome `the `pressure diierential -and .open the door. vSome airplane manufacturers overcome this phenomc non by placingy a screen orotheraperture in the door so as to equalize the pressures between the two compartments.

It will be readily understood that if a condition responsive device, such as that shown at I4 in the drawing, is mounted over an aperture in the wall I3 in the manner disclosed in Figure 3, that the .pressure differential conditiondescribed above Will-produce a dow ofgair throughfthe apertures 40, over the coil 2|, and through the aperture 21 vand sleeve 32. This ow of air brings air quickly "from parts of the cabin remote from the device Adnandrmakes the changes in temperature adjacent the coil 2l accurately representative of the l'average temperature vcondition in the cabin I I.

iIlraveV disclosedgin Figure 2 a modification of "my invention Vwhich may be used in vehicles Where the pressure diierential condition described abovefdoes: not exist. In Figure 2, there is attached to the sleeve 32, besides the connector 36, a duct 42, connecting with a port 43 in the Outer.--surface of thefvehicle. Thezipassageof air .pastttheignort 43duetoathezmotionpf the vehicle, will; tendit suck-'airthrous-h ,the;duct=;.4.2., thereby Causing ao-wot airy over. thecondtion.responsive device ,I4 If,desred, ya suitableshield Mrmay be placed over the 5 port 1.43, with Ian 'opening atoward-.therear of the vehicle. I,Suchasloield :Will tend to accentuatey the suction .conditionlarising due to thevmotionofthe vehicle. The duct 42 is used toavoid mounting thetemperatureresponsive device .I4fonV aneXternal-wall of the vehicle, .where it .might be adverselyfaifected by outside weatherconditions.

While vI have shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention, `othermodicavtionsthereof willreadilyoccur to `those skilled inthe art, and I thereforel wishfto be'.V limited only by the `scopeof .the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

11. A `temperature control system .fora vehicle, comprising in combination, wall means-defining .a rst space within .saidvehcle whose temper-ature is tobeccntrolled, ,said wallmeans having an y.aperture therein, a ,temperature `responsive device, means for .mounting A,said fdevice vwithin said space andinrontof saidaperture, ymeans deninga second space vwithin said .vehicle-and adjacent said aperture Yon theoppositeside of said .wallmeans from .said device, means.l effective upon sufficient movement of the vehicle to reduce the lairy pressure in saidsecond space `to :a 4value belowthatofthe air pressure insaid rst-space so .as to causeaflow of airover said device and through said aperture, and means operatively connected tosaiddevicc for controllmgithe temperature in 4said .nrst space.

2. In a temperature Acontrol system forra vehicle, in combination, wall means. deiining'a first space within said vehicle Whose temperatureisfto .be controlled, said wall means having an aperture therein, a temperature responsive device, `means for mounting Said device withlnsaidspace and in front of said aperture, means deningasecond space Within -saidvehicle and adjacent said aperture on the opposite side of said Wall means 'from said'devce, andemeans upon suflicent movement ofthe -vehicleeffective 'to-reduce't-he Yair'fpressure insaidisecond-space -to a value 'below that of the air pressurein said-rst space soas to cause a ,of air over said |`device y:and -through lsaid aperture.

3. Inza temperaturescont-rol systemffor a vehicle. in combination, wall means-.dcningxa-spaceiwhose temperature is tobeoontrolled, said wallsmeans having an aperture therein, ra :temperature :re-

sponsive device, means for mounting said device Within said space and in front of said aperture,

ing outside Wall means of the vehicle defining a second space adjacent saidaperture on the yoppo- 4 site side of said Wall means from said device, and

' the outside Wall means upon sufficient movement oi the vehicle effective to reduce the air pressure in said second space to a value below that of the air pressure in said Viirst space so as to cause a iiow of air over said device and through said aperture.

f 4. In an air conditioning system, in combination, wall means dening a first space, said wall means lhaving, an aperture therein, an electrical device variable in response to changes in a condition of the ambientl air, a base for supporting said device, said base having an aperture of substantially the same cross-sectionalfarea as said the said aperture, and means operatively con-v of the air pressure in said iirst space so as to cause aA flow of air over said device and through said aperture.

5. I n a temperature control system for aircraft, in combination, rst wall means comprising a partition Wall dening a compartment near the front of said aircraft and including outside Wall means, second wall means including said partition Wall dening a passenger cabin to the rear of said compartment, the partition Wall having an aperture therethrough, a temperature responsive device, means for mounting said device within said cabin andin front of said aperture, the

yfront lportion of the outside Wall means upon suiiicient movement of the C vehicle effective to f reduce the air pressure in the iront compartment to cause a flow of air over said device and through n nected to said device for controlling the tempera- Wall aperture, a sleeve fixed on said base, substan` tially surrounding said base aperture' and extending substantially through said 'Wall aperture,

means cooperating with said sleeve to attach said base and sleeve to said wall, electrical air conditioning means, conductor means connecting said device and said air conditioning means and extending through said sleeve and said apertures, apertured guard means and an electrical connector associated with said sleeve on the side of f the wall opposite said device, said guard and connector serving to prevent injury to said conductor means inside said sleeve, and said connector serving as a part of said conductor means,`means dening a second space adjacent said aperture on the opposite side of said wall means from said device, andA means effective to reduce the airl pressure in said second space to a value below that ture in said passenger cabin,

6. In an air conditioning system, in combination, an electrical control device variable in rec sponse to a change in a condition of the ambient y air, an elongated casingvfor saidcontrol device including apertures in opposite ends thereof, a

base for supporting said device and said casing, saidbase having an aperture therein at a point intermediate the apertures in said casing, electrical connectors attached to said device and extending through said base aperture, and conduit ymeans adapted for mounting in alignment with said aperture, said conduit means including electrical connector means and having air passage means therein so that in the event a pressure differential exists between the interior of said casing and the exterior of said conduit means, air may ovv through said casing and said conduit means.

- RUSSELL H. WHEMPNER. 

